EP0211244B1 - Document size detecting device - Google Patents
Document size detecting device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0211244B1 EP0211244B1 EP86109130A EP86109130A EP0211244B1 EP 0211244 B1 EP0211244 B1 EP 0211244B1 EP 86109130 A EP86109130 A EP 86109130A EP 86109130 A EP86109130 A EP 86109130A EP 0211244 B1 EP0211244 B1 EP 0211244B1
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- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- document
- arm
- detecting device
- document size
- size detecting
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
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- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 claims description 61
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 claims description 7
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 25
- 238000005192 partition Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000002452 interceptive effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000002035 prolonged effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000009429 electrical wiring Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004804 winding Methods 0.000 description 1
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
- G03G15/60—Apparatus which relate to the handling of originals
- G03G15/607—Apparatus which relate to the handling of originals for detecting size, presence or position of original
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a document size detecting device, more particularly, relates to a document size detecting device for automatically detecting a size of a document set on a contact glass.
- an image forming device for a copying machine or the like having an automatic paper feeding function for detecting a document size and automatically feeding from a cassette a paper sheet of the size corresponding to a preset copy magnification factor, and an automatic magnification factor setting function for automatically computing the copy magnification factor from the detected document size and paper sheet size to perform a magnification changing operation of an optical system.
- the document size detecting device (1) poses a problem that when the speed changes at which the document holder is closed, the document detecting time changes, resulting in erroneously detecting the size of the document.
- the document size detecting device (2) requires a special driving mechanism for retracting the light receiver, thus complicating the arrangement of the device. Furthermore, a period of time for retracting the light receiver is needed from completing the detection of the document size till starting the exposure of the document, so that there is a problem that the time is prolonged which is needed after keying operation for starting exposure of the document till completion of exposure of the document.
- An object of the invention is to provide a document size detecting device which is not influenced by changes of the speed for closing the document holder and is capable of reducing the time needed after predetermined keying is effected till exposure of the document is completed.
- a document size detecting device to achieve the aforesaid object according to the invention adapted to be mounted on an image forming device which exposes a document for forming an image thereof by moving an optical section
- said document size detecting device comprises an arm foldable at a predetermined portion thereof, and connected at its one end to a stationary body of the image forming device and at its other end to a movable frame supporting a part of the optical section, so that the arm can be folded and unfolded in operative association with the movement of the optical section, and a plurality of optical sensors attached to said arm, the position of said sensors corresponding to various format sizes of documents.
- the arm may be removably attached to the movable frame, and the optical sensors may be of the reflecting type and attached to the arm so that they are directed obliquely upward.
- the optical sensors can be disposed so that they correspond to documents of various format sizes; therefore, by deciding which optical sensor is detecting the document, it is possible to automatically detect the size of the document. And upon detection of the size of the document, the arm is folded following the movement of the movable frame, so that exposure of the document can be performed without any trouble.
- the arm is removably connected to the movable frame, it is possible to move the arm and the movable frame in one piece at the first exposure time and move the movable frame alone at the second and following exposure times.
- optical sensors are of the reflecting type and attached to the arm so that they are directed obliquely upward, it is possible to accurately detect the size of the document without being influenced by the reflected light from the contact glass sheet.
- Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a document size detecting device of the present invention installed in a copying machine.
- the numeral 1 denotes a first movable frame for a copying machine
- 2 denotes a second movable frame
- 3 denotes an arm.
- the first movable frame 1 serves to support a light source 11 and a reflecting mirror 12.
- the second movable frame 2 serves to support reflecting mirrors 21 and 22.
- the movable frames 1 and 2 are slidably engaged at one of their respective ends with a guide shaft 13 through slide members 1a and 2a.
- the other ends of the movable frames are placed on a guide rail 14 disposed in parallel relationship to the guide shaft 13 through rotatable rollers 1 and 2b.
- the two movable frames 1 and 2 are reciprocative along the guide shaft 13 and guide rail 14.
- the optical section comprising the above-mentioned light source 11 and reflecting mirrors 12, 21 and 22 is made reciprocative by winding a wire 15, fixed at its opposite ends 15a and 15b to the body of the copying machine, around pulleys 16 and 17, a tension pulley 18 and a driving drum 19, and also around a driven pulley 23 attached to the second movable frame 2 at a predetermined position thereof, and fixing the wire 15 to a projecting strip 1c extending from the slide member 1a.
- the moving speed of the first movable frame 1 is twice that of the second movable frame 2.
- the arm 3 comprises a pair of rods 31 and 32 connected to turn together by a shaft 33 so that the arm 3 is foldable at its middle.
- One rod 31 is connected to turn at its front end to the body of the device at a predetermined position thereon, e.g., adjacent the end of the guide shaft 13 by a shaft 34.
- the other end of the rod 31 is connected to turn to the first movable frame 1 at a predetermined position thereon by a shaft 35 (see Fig. 3).
- Attached to the rods 31 and 32 at predetermined positions thereon are a plurality of optical sensors 37 each of which comprises a light emitter 38 and a light receiver 39.
- the optical sensors 37 are installed by means of attaching members 36 so that they are directed obliquely upward.
- the rods 31 and 32 are formed with cavities 31a and 32a, through which lead wires 37a are passed to be connected to the optical sensors 37 for electrical wiring. Further, the cavities 31 a and 32a also contribute to reducing the weight of the arm 3.
- Each optical sensor 37 is, as shown in Fig. 2, positioned to correspond to the set position of a document having a particular format size (such as A3, Folio, B4, A4 or B5 adopted in Japan and Europe). More particularly, the sensor 37 for detecting a document of the minimum size is positioned in a range where the document of the minimum size can be irradiated with light, while each of the other sensors 37 is positioned for irradiation with light in a region which is within a range for a document of the corresponding format size and which extends beyond a one size smaller document. Further, the optical sensors 37 are positioned close to a lower surface of a contact glass 10 which serves to set a document in position. Thus, since this arrangement does not require a high degree of directivity of the light emitter 38, there is an advantage that cost of the optical sensors 37 can be reduced.
- a document having a particular format size such as A3, Folio, B4, A4 or B5 adopted in Japan and Europe. More particularly, the sensor 37 for detecting a
- the document size can be detected by allowing the optical sensors 37 to be operative and deciding which optical sensor 37 is that whose light receiver 39 has received a reflected light from the document.
- optical sensors 37 are installed so that they are directed obliquely upward, there is no danger of them being influenced by the reflected light from the contact glass 10; thus, correct detection of the size of the document can be attained.
- Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention wherein the arm 3 is removably connected to the first movable frame 1.
- the front end of the rod 32 is connected to turn to a movable member 1d which is movable along the guide shaft 13.
- An engaging pin 41 is attached to the movable member 1d at a predetermined position thereon.
- an engaging hook 43 engageable with the engaging pin 41 is attached to a slide member 1 a of the first movable frame 1.
- the engaging hook 43 is engaged with the engaging pin 41 by being driven for turning movement in one direction by a solenoid 42 attached to the slide member 1 a. This engagement maintains the first movable frame 1 and the arm 3 in their interconnected state.
- the engaging hook 43 is disengaged from the engaging pin 41 by being driven for turning movement in the other direction by the solenoid 42. This disengagement results in cancelling the interconnection between the first movable frame 1 and the arm 3.
- the rest of the arrangement of this embodiment is the same as in the preceding embodiment.
- the solenoid 42 is actuated to cancel the engagement between the engaging hook 43 and the engaging pin 41, whereby the arm 3 can be held folded in readiness for operation. Further, after the first movable frame 1 has been moved forward a predetermined number of times, the arm 3 can be unfolded again while following the movement of the first movable frame 1 by establishing the engagement between the engaging hook 43 and the engaging pin 41. That is, the arm 3 can be folded only when it is necessary to detect the size of a document.
- the load required for moving the optical section can be reduced.
- the load-variation at the optical unit can be prevented so that a blurring is positively avoided.
- Another advantage ia that the lead wires 37a for the optical sensors 37 can be prevented from being loaded.
- Such an erroneous decision can be avoided by moving the movable frames 1 and 2 a predetermined distance to fold the arm 3 after a document size detection by the optical sensors 37 has been made, and making a document size detection again with the optical sensors 37 in its moved state.
- the optical sensors 37 are moved when the document holder (not illustrated) is being closed, and the first detection of the size of a document is made by deciding, which optical sensor 37 is that whose light receiver 39 has received the refected light from the document.
- the movable frames 1 and 2 are moved a predetermined distance to move the optical sensors 37 a predetermined distance as shown in two-dot chain line in Fig. 5, and the second detection of the document size is made in the same manner as above.
- the aforesaid first and second detections of the document size are made during the closing operation of the document holder (not illustrated); thus, there is no need to perform the closing and opening of the document holder twice.
- the presence of a document can be reliably ascertained even if there is a bold-faced character portion in the document at the point for document size detection by the optical sensor; thus, on the basis of this ascertainment, the document size can be correctly detected.
- a method which comprises, subsequently to the first detection of the document size, deciding whether or not the level of detection by the optical sensors 37 has been changed, and, if it is not changed, holding the detection level, and if it is changed, deciding which of the first and the second detection levels is higher to hold the higher detection level, whereby detecting the document size on the basis of these held data.
- a method wherein the document size is detected solely on the basis of detection levels higher than a predetermined reference level.
- the distance to be traveled by the optical sensors 37 is in a range of difference between two closest dimensions of documents among a plurality of documents of different format sizes (the range indicated by the reference character D in Fig. 5, which is, for example, about 5 mm), ordinary document size detection can be accurately made.
- the distance to be traveled by the movable frame 1 is therefore instituted to be in the range, for example, of about 10 mm to 50 mm.
- the distance of travel may be set at a greater value. It is, of course, also possible to provide three or more locations for document size detection.
- Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the invention.
- the arm 3 is supported at its middle foldable portion by a support member 50.
- the support member 50 is disposed parallel to the movable frames 1 and 2.
- One end 52 of the support member 50 is engaged to slide with the guide shaft 13.
- the other end 53 of the support member 50 is supported to slide by a guide rail 14.
- the shaft 33 for interconnecting the rods 31 and 32 extends downward beyond the rod 32 (see Fig. 8).
- the lower portion 33a of the shaft 33 is engaged in an elongated groove 51 formed in the support member 50.
- the rest of the arrangement of the embodiment is the same as in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1.
- the optical sensors 37 are actuated when the document holder (not illustrated) is being closed, and it is decided which optical sensor 37 is that whose light receiver 39 has received the reflected light from the document, whereby the document size can be detected.
- the document can be exposed by moving the movable frames 1 and 2 foreward.
- the arm 3 is moved together with the first movable frame 1 away from the path of light for the optical section.
- the support member 50 also is moved parallel to the optical section.
- the foldable portion of the arm 3 is supported by the support member 50, sag of the foldable portion can be prevented.
- the positioning level of the optical sensors 37 can be maintained constant all the time. Therefore, document size detection can be made always in a stabilized manner.
- vertical vibration of the arm 3 can be prevented by the support member 50, exposure by the optical section can be effected in a stabilized manner. As a result, the image can be prevented from being blurred.
- the support member 50 is moved following the movement of the arm 3, it never interferes with the movement of the optical section.
- Fig. 9 shows another embodiment of the invention, which differs from the embodiment shown in Fig. 6 in the shape of the lower portion 33b of the shaft 33 and the shape of the elongated groove 61 in the support member 60;.
- the rest of the arrangement is the same as in Fig. 6 and the corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference characters.
- the lower portion 33b of the shaft 33 is provided with a ball 63 rotatably held by a ball support 62.
- the elongated groove 61 of the support member 60 has a depth such that the ball 63 can freely roll therein but does not roll out of the groove.
- the shafts 34 and 35 may be provided with plate springs for elastically urging the arm 3 upward.
- the partition plate can take the place of the support means of the constuction shown in Fig. 9, i.e. the lower portion 33b of the shaft 33 may be extended to the partition plate to allow the ball 63 to roll on the partition plate.
- Fig. 10 is a principal perspective view showing another embodiment of the arm 3.
- This embodiment differs from the above embodiments in that one rod 32 is bifurcated at its end and the other rod 31 is held in the bifurcation and connected thereto.
- the upper surface of the rod 31 can be positioned on a level with the upper surface of the rod 32.
- the levels at which the optical sensors 37 are attached to the arm 3 can be made the same all together. Therefore, the attaching members 36 used for the optical sensors 37 can be of the same shape, whereby the attachment and adjustment of the optical sensors 37 can be simplified.
- Embodiments of the document size detecting device of the present invention have so far been described in detail, but the invention is not limited thereto.
- the device of the invention can, of course, be mounted on other image processing devices than copying machines.
- the document size detecting device can be easily mounted on the image forming device of the optical section moving type, without having to attach a special driving mechanism for detecting the document size. Further, the invention is not influenced by the speed at which the document holder is closed. Further, the invention is capable of reducing the time required from the time of keying for starting exposure of a document till completion of exposure of the document.
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- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Exposure Or Original Feeding In Electrophotography (AREA)
- Holders For Sensitive Materials And Originals (AREA)
- Controlling Sheets Or Webs (AREA)
- Length Measuring Devices By Optical Means (AREA)
- Optical Systems Of Projection Type Copiers (AREA)
Description
- The present invention relates to a document size detecting device, more particularly, relates to a document size detecting device for automatically detecting a size of a document set on a contact glass.
- In recent years, there has been proposed an image forming device for a copying machine or the like having an automatic paper feeding function for detecting a document size and automatically feeding from a cassette a paper sheet of the size corresponding to a preset copy magnification factor, and an automatic magnification factor setting function for automatically computing the copy magnification factor from the detected document size and paper sheet size to perform a magnification changing operation of an optical system.
- Among known document size detecting device for use in such type of image forming device are:
- (1) A device wherein a sensor bar having a sensor at its front end is revolved parallel to a surface of the contact glass sheet in operative association with the action of closing the document holder, whereby the size of the document is automatically detected on the basis of the time needed until the document is detected (see Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 201558/1982);
- (2) A device comprising a colored member installed at a predetermined position on the document holder, a light emitter for radiating light to the colored member, a light receiver for receiving the reflected light from the colored member, and drive means for retracting the light receiver to a position not interfering with the movement of the document before the copying operation is performed, wherein the size of the document is automatically detected on the basis of signals from the light receiver corresponding to the portions obstructed and non-obstructed by the document, respectively (see JP-A-56-22424); and
- (3) A device including a pair of optical sensors attached to a movable frame at predetermined positions thereon which supports the optical section, wherein one of said optical sensors detects the end of a document while the other optical sensor reads a mark on an indicator plate, whereby the size of the document is automatically detected (see JP-A-57-48759).
- However, the document size detecting device (1) poses a problem that when the speed changes at which the document holder is closed, the document detecting time changes, resulting in erroneously detecting the size of the document.
- Further, the document size detecting device (2) requires a special driving mechanism for retracting the light receiver, thus complicating the arrangement of the device. Furthermore, a period of time for retracting the light receiver is needed from completing the detection of the document size till starting the exposure of the document, so that there is a problem that the time is prolonged which is needed after keying operation for starting exposure of the document till completion of exposure of the document.
- Every time the above-mentioned document size detecting device (3) senses the document size, the movable frame supporting the optical unit must be reciprocated once. Therefore, there is a disadvantage that the time after key-input for starting exposure of the document till completion of exposure is prolonged.
- An object of the invention is to provide a document size detecting device which is not influenced by changes of the speed for closing the document holder and is capable of reducing the time needed after predetermined keying is effected till exposure of the document is completed.
- A document size detecting device to achieve the aforesaid object according to the invention adapted to be mounted on an image forming device which exposes a document for forming an image thereof by moving an optical section, said document size detecting device comprises an arm foldable at a predetermined portion thereof, and connected at its one end to a stationary body of the image forming device and at its other end to a movable frame supporting a part of the optical section, so that the arm can be folded and unfolded in operative association with the movement of the optical section, and a plurality of optical sensors attached to said arm, the position of said sensors corresponding to various format sizes of documents.
- The arm may be removably attached to the movable frame, and the optical sensors may be of the reflecting type and attached to the arm so that they are directed obliquely upward.
- According to the document size detecting device arranged in the manner described above, with the movable frame supporting the optical section being in a home position and with the arm being substantially unfolded, the optical sensors can be disposed so that they correspond to documents of various format sizes; therefore, by deciding which optical sensor is detecting the document, it is possible to automatically detect the size of the document. And upon detection of the size of the document, the arm is folded following the movement of the movable frame, so that exposure of the document can be performed without any trouble.
- Further, in the case where the arm is removably connected to the movable frame, it is possible to move the arm and the movable frame in one piece at the first exposure time and move the movable frame alone at the second and following exposure times.
- If the optical sensors are of the reflecting type and attached to the arm so that they are directed obliquely upward, it is possible to accurately detect the size of the document without being influenced by the reflected light from the contact glass sheet.
- The above and the other objects will become apparent from the description hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.
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- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a document size detecting device according to an embodiment of the invention;
- Fig. 2 is a view for explaining positions where optical sensors are installed;
- Fig. 3 is perspective view showing a movable frame after being moved;
- Fig. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention;
- Fig. 5 is a view for explaining a case where document size detection is made twice;
- Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the invention;
- Fig. 7 is a perspective view showinga movable frame after being moved;
- Fig. 8 is a view, partly in section, showing engagement between an arm and an arm support member;
- Fig. 9 is a view, partly in section, showing another type of engagement between the arm and the arm support member; and
- Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view showing another embodiment of an arm.
- Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a document size detecting device of the present invention installed in a copying machine.
- In Fig. 1, the
numeral 1 denotes a first movable frame for a copying machine; 2 denotes a second movable frame; and 3 denotes an arm. - The first
movable frame 1 serves to support alight source 11 and a reflectingmirror 12. The secondmovable frame 2 serves to support reflectingmirrors movable frames guide shaft 13 throughslide members 1a and 2a. The other ends of the movable frames are placed on aguide rail 14 disposed in parallel relationship to theguide shaft 13 throughrotatable rollers movable frames guide shaft 13 andguide rail 14. - The optical section comprising the above-mentioned
light source 11 and reflectingmirrors wire 15, fixed at itsopposite ends pulleys tension pulley 18 and adriving drum 19, and also around a drivenpulley 23 attached to the secondmovable frame 2 at a predetermined position thereof, and fixing thewire 15 to a projectingstrip 1c extending from the slide member 1a. Thus, when the twomovable frames movable frame 1 is twice that of the secondmovable frame 2. - The
arm 3 comprises a pair ofrods shaft 33 so that thearm 3 is foldable at its middle. Onerod 31 is connected to turn at its front end to the body of the device at a predetermined position thereon, e.g., adjacent the end of theguide shaft 13 by ashaft 34. The other end of therod 31 is connected to turn to the firstmovable frame 1 at a predetermined position thereon by a shaft 35 (see Fig. 3). Attached to therods optical sensors 37 each of which comprises alight emitter 38 and alight receiver 39. Theoptical sensors 37 are installed by means of attachingmembers 36 so that they are directed obliquely upward. In addition, therods cavities lead wires 37a are passed to be connected to theoptical sensors 37 for electrical wiring. Further, thecavities arm 3. - Each
optical sensor 37 is, as shown in Fig. 2, positioned to correspond to the set position of a document having a particular format size (such as A3, Folio, B4, A4 or B5 adopted in Japan and Europe). More particularly, thesensor 37 for detecting a document of the minimum size is positioned in a range where the document of the minimum size can be irradiated with light, while each of theother sensors 37 is positioned for irradiation with light in a region which is within a range for a document of the corresponding format size and which extends beyond a one size smaller document. Further, theoptical sensors 37 are positioned close to a lower surface of acontact glass 10 which serves to set a document in position. Thus, since this arrangement does not require a high degree of directivity of thelight emitter 38, there is an advantage that cost of theoptical sensors 37 can be reduced. - In the arrangement thus made, wherein the first
movable frame 1 is positioned in the home position as shown in Fig. 1, with the document holder (not illustrated) closed, the document size can be detected by allowing theoptical sensors 37 to be operative and deciding whichoptical sensor 37 is that whoselight receiver 39 has received a reflected light from the document. - Thereafter, the two
movable frames arm 3 is folded around the axis of theshaft 33 while following the forward movement of the firstmovable frame 1, there is no possibility of interfering with the forward movement of the firstmovable frame 1. - When the
movable frames arm 3 is contrarily unfolded, so that in this case also there is no danger of interfering with the backward movement of the firstmovable frame 1. - Further, since the
optical sensors 37 are installed so that they are directed obliquely upward, there is no danger of them being influenced by the reflected light from thecontact glass 10; thus, correct detection of the size of the document can be attained. - Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention wherein the
arm 3 is removably connected to the firstmovable frame 1. In this embodiment, the front end of therod 32 is connected to turn to a movable member 1d which is movable along theguide shaft 13. Anengaging pin 41 is attached to the movable member 1d at a predetermined position thereon. Further, an engaging hook 43 engageable with theengaging pin 41 is attached to a slide member 1 a of the firstmovable frame 1. The engaging hook 43 is engaged with theengaging pin 41 by being driven for turning movement in one direction by a solenoid 42 attached to the slide member 1 a. This engagement maintains the firstmovable frame 1 and thearm 3 in their interconnected state. The engaging hook 43 is disengaged from theengaging pin 41 by being driven for turning movement in the other direction by the solenoid 42. This disengagement results in cancelling the interconnection between the firstmovable frame 1 and thearm 3. The rest of the arrangement of this embodiment is the same as in the preceding embodiment. - Therefore, in this embodiment also, as in the one shown in Fig. 1, detection of the size of documents can be made. When the first
movable frame 1 is once moved forward, the solenoid 42 is actuated to cancel the engagement between the engaging hook 43 and the engagingpin 41, whereby thearm 3 can be held folded in readiness for operation. Further, after the firstmovable frame 1 has been moved forward a predetermined number of times, thearm 3 can be unfolded again while following the movement of the firstmovable frame 1 by establishing the engagement between the engaging hook 43 and the engagingpin 41. That is, thearm 3 can be folded only when it is necessary to detect the size of a document. Thus, in the case where a single document or documents of the same size are to be continuously copied, the load required for moving the optical section can be reduced. Moreover, the load-variation at the optical unit can be prevented so that a blurring is positively avoided. Another advantage ia that thelead wires 37a for theoptical sensors 37 can be prevented from being loaded. - In each of the embodiments described above, for a document of each size, there is only one point for document size detection by the
optical sensor 37. As a result, in the case where there is a bold-faced character portion in a document at such a point, thelight receiver 39 of the correspondingoptical sensor 37 cannot receive the reflected light from the document. That is, if the document size detecting device of the aforesaid arrangement is used, there will be a case where it is decided that no document has been set, even if a document has been actually set. Such an erroneous decision can be avoided by moving themovable frames arm 3 after a document size detection by theoptical sensors 37 has been made, and making a document size detection again with theoptical sensors 37 in its moved state. - In this connection, a further description will be given with reference to Fig. 5 hereinafter. First, with the first
movable frame 1 positioned in the home position as shown in solid lines in Fig. 5, theoptical sensors 37 are moved when the document holder (not illustrated) is being closed, and the first detection of the size of a document is made by deciding, whichoptical sensor 37 is that whoselight receiver 39 has received the refected light from the document. Upon completion of the first detection of the document size, themovable frames optical sensors 37 a predetermined distance as shown in two-dot chain line in Fig. 5, and the second detection of the document size is made in the same manner as above. - In addition, the aforesaid first and second detections of the document size are made during the closing operation of the document holder (not illustrated); thus, there is no need to perform the closing and opening of the document holder twice.
- By making two detections of the document size in such a manner, the presence of a document can be reliably ascertained even if there is a bold-faced character portion in the document at the point for document size detection by the optical sensor; thus, on the basis of this ascertainment, the document size can be correctly detected.
- For deciding which of the results of the aforesaid two detections should be employed, there can be contemplated a method which comprises, subsequently to the first detection of the document size, deciding whether or not the level of detection by the
optical sensors 37 has been changed, and, if it is not changed, holding the detection level, and if it is changed, deciding which of the first and the second detection levels is higher to hold the higher detection level, whereby detecting the document size on the basis of these held data. As another method of decision, there can be contemplated a method wherein the document size is detected solely on the basis of detection levels higher than a predetermined reference level. - To make twice the detections of the document size, as described above, it is necessary to inch the
movable frames movable frames optical sensors 37. - If the distance to be traveled by the
optical sensors 37 is in a range of difference between two closest dimensions of documents among a plurality of documents of different format sizes (the range indicated by the reference character D in Fig. 5, which is, for example, about 5 mm), ordinary document size detection can be accurately made. The distance to be traveled by themovable frame 1 is therefore instituted to be in the range, for example, of about 10 mm to 50 mm. However, if the number of sizes of documents to be identified is small and if the difference between the sizes of documents is great, the distance of travel may be set at a greater value. It is, of course, also possible to provide three or more locations for document size detection. - Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the invention. The
arm 3 is suported at its middle foldable portion by asupport member 50. Thesupport member 50 is disposed parallel to themovable frames end 52 of thesupport member 50 is engaged to slide with theguide shaft 13. Theother end 53 of thesupport member 50 is supported to slide by aguide rail 14. Theshaft 33 for interconnecting therods lower portion 33a of theshaft 33 is engaged in anelongated groove 51 formed in thesupport member 50. The rest of the arrangement of the embodiment is the same as in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1. - Thus, with the first
movable frame 1 positioned in the home position, as shown in Fig. 6, theoptical sensors 37 are actuated when the document holder (not illustrated) is being closed, and it is decided whichoptical sensor 37 is that whoselight receiver 39 has received the reflected light from the document, whereby the document size can be detected. - Thereafter, the document can be exposed by moving the
movable frames arm 3 is moved together with the firstmovable frame 1 away from the path of light for the optical section. With this movement of thearm 3, thesupport member 50 also is moved parallel to the optical section. After themovable frames - In this embodiment, since the foldable portion of the
arm 3 is supported by thesupport member 50, sag of the foldable portion can be prevented. As a result, the positioning level of theoptical sensors 37 can be maintained constant all the time. Therefore, document size detection can be made always in a stabilized manner. Further, since vertical vibration of thearm 3 can be prevented by thesupport member 50, exposure by the optical section can be effected in a stabilized manner. As a result, the image can be prevented from being blurred. Furthermore, since thesupport member 50 is moved following the movement of thearm 3, it never interferes with the movement of the optical section. - Fig. 9 shows another embodiment of the invention, which differs from the embodiment shown in Fig. 6 in the shape of the
lower portion 33b of theshaft 33 and the shape of theelongated groove 61 in thesupport member 60;. The rest of the arrangement is the same as in Fig. 6 and the corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference characters. - In this embodiment, the
lower portion 33b of theshaft 33 is provided with aball 63 rotatably held by aball support 62. Theelongated groove 61 of thesupport member 60 has a depth such that theball 63 can freely roll therein but does not roll out of the groove. With the arrangement thus made, when thearm 3 is folded following the movement of the firstmovable frame 1, theball 63 in thelower portion 33b of theshaft 33 rolls along theelongated groove 61, so that theshaft 33 can be smoothly moved along thesupport member 60. - Other various means for supporting the
arm 3 can be mentioned than the one described above. For example, theshafts arm 3 upward. In the case of a copying machine having a partition plate for separating the optical section from the lower portion of the device, the partition plate can take the place of the support means of the constuction shown in Fig. 9, i.e. thelower portion 33b of theshaft 33 may be extended to the partition plate to allow theball 63 to roll on the partition plate. - Fig. 10 is a principal perspective view showing another embodiment of the
arm 3. This embodiment differs from the above embodiments in that onerod 32 is bifurcated at its end and theother rod 31 is held in the bifurcation and connected thereto. In the case of this embodiment, the upper surface of therod 31 can be positioned on a level with the upper surface of therod 32. Thereby, the levels at which theoptical sensors 37 are attached to thearm 3 can be made the same all together. Therefore, the attachingmembers 36 used for theoptical sensors 37 can be of the same shape, whereby the attachment and adjustment of theoptical sensors 37 can be simplified. - Embodiments of the document size detecting device of the present invention have so far been described in detail, but the invention is not limited thereto. For example, it is not absolutely necessary to set the foldable portion of the
arm 3 at the middle of thearm 3; the setting position of the foldable portion depends on whether the end of thearm 3 is attached to the optical section or to the copying machine body. The device of the invention can, of course, be mounted on other image processing devices than copying machines. - According to the invention in the foregoing, the document size detecting device can be easily mounted on the image forming device of the optical section moving type, without having to attach a special driving mechanism for detecting the document size. Further, the invention is not influenced by the speed at which the document holder is closed. Further, the invention is capable of reducing the time required from the time of keying for starting exposure of a document till completion of exposure of the document.
Claims (6)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP148780/85 | 1985-07-05 | ||
JP60148780A JPS629205A (en) | 1985-07-05 | 1985-07-05 | Original size detecting device |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0211244A1 EP0211244A1 (en) | 1987-02-25 |
EP0211244B1 true EP0211244B1 (en) | 1989-09-27 |
Family
ID=15460505
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP86109130A Expired EP0211244B1 (en) | 1985-07-05 | 1986-07-04 | Document size detecting device |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US4692019A (en) |
EP (1) | EP0211244B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JPS629205A (en) |
DE (1) | DE3665937D1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (19)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE3789759T2 (en) * | 1986-11-17 | 1994-08-18 | Mita Industrial Co Ltd | Device for scanning the size of a document. |
JPH0827494B2 (en) * | 1987-07-02 | 1996-03-21 | ミノルタ株式会社 | Copier |
JPH0173855U (en) * | 1987-10-31 | 1989-05-18 | ||
US4963934A (en) * | 1988-03-23 | 1990-10-16 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba | Image forming apparatus capable of shortening document size detection time |
US4903078A (en) * | 1988-04-07 | 1990-02-20 | Eastman Kodak Company | Imaging apparatus with variable aperture platen |
US4990956A (en) * | 1988-04-07 | 1991-02-05 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba | Image forming apparatus |
US5016049A (en) * | 1988-06-03 | 1991-05-14 | Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha | Document detecting device for an image forming apparatus |
JP2677620B2 (en) * | 1988-08-05 | 1997-11-17 | 株式会社東芝 | Image forming device |
US4924262A (en) * | 1989-06-22 | 1990-05-08 | Xerox Corporation | Shutter calibration and document size detection |
JPH0466969A (en) * | 1990-07-03 | 1992-03-03 | Minolta Camera Co Ltd | Copying machine |
JP2698270B2 (en) * | 1992-01-20 | 1998-01-19 | 三田工業株式会社 | Document scanning device |
DE69325225T2 (en) * | 1992-03-19 | 1999-12-02 | Fujitsu Ltd | IMAGE READER |
US5258812A (en) * | 1992-07-27 | 1993-11-02 | Eastman Kodak Company | Method and mechanism for document size determination using an advanceable document background member |
US5576804A (en) * | 1994-06-08 | 1996-11-19 | Mita Industrial Co., Ltd. | Apparatus and method for inhibiting dust adherence to the contact plate of a copying machine |
US5659643A (en) * | 1995-01-23 | 1997-08-19 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Notched fiber array illumination device |
KR0143099B1 (en) * | 1995-05-10 | 1998-08-17 | 김광호 | Photo light control method when copying with manual tray of electronic printer |
US5631994A (en) * | 1995-08-23 | 1997-05-20 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Structured surface light extraction overlay and illumination system |
US5905826A (en) * | 1996-01-24 | 1999-05-18 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Co. | Conspicuity marking system including light guide and retroreflective structure |
US10475038B1 (en) | 2018-11-26 | 2019-11-12 | Capital One Services, Llc | Systems and methods for visual verification |
Family Cites Families (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3501236A (en) * | 1967-02-20 | 1970-03-17 | Addressograph Multigraph | Photoelectrostatic print-out machine |
US3710019A (en) * | 1969-08-11 | 1973-01-09 | Hell R Kg | Method and apparatus for determining data to be used by electronic photo-typesetting devices |
US3989371A (en) * | 1975-04-01 | 1976-11-02 | Xerox Corporation | Cycle-out logic for a multi-mode copier/duplicator |
US4320961A (en) * | 1980-01-28 | 1982-03-23 | Nashua Corporation | Jam detecting apparatus and method for electrostatic copier |
JPH0228529Y2 (en) * | 1981-06-19 | 1990-07-31 | ||
US4568181A (en) * | 1982-10-28 | 1986-02-04 | Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha | Size detecting device of a copy document suitable for electrophotographic copying machine |
JPS6010237A (en) * | 1983-06-30 | 1985-01-19 | Fuji Xerox Co Ltd | Original size detector for copying machine |
JPS6014229A (en) * | 1983-07-05 | 1985-01-24 | Canon Inc | Sheet size display device of picture recording device |
-
1985
- 1985-07-05 JP JP60148780A patent/JPS629205A/en active Granted
-
1986
- 1986-07-01 US US06/880,859 patent/US4692019A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1986-07-04 DE DE8686109130T patent/DE3665937D1/en not_active Expired
- 1986-07-04 EP EP86109130A patent/EP0211244B1/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE3665937D1 (en) | 1989-11-02 |
JPH0340389B2 (en) | 1991-06-18 |
EP0211244A1 (en) | 1987-02-25 |
US4692019A (en) | 1987-09-08 |
JPS629205A (en) | 1987-01-17 |
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